This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 06/10/2013 and available online at http://federalregister.gov/a/2013-13682, and on FDsys.gov
BILLING CODE: 3410-34-P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2013-0028]
Notice of Request for Extension of Approval of an Information Collection; Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Extension of approval of an information collection; comment request.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with regulations for the interstate movement of certain land tortoises.
DATES: We will consider all comments that we receive on or before [Insert date 60 days after
date of publication in the Federal Register].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0028-0001.
• Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Send your comment to Docket No. APHIS-2013-
0028, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3A-03.8, 4700 River
Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238.
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Supporting documents and any comments we receive on this docket may be viewed at
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0028 or in our reading room, which
is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue
SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 799-7039
before coming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on regulations for the interstate
movement of certain land tortoises, contact Dr. Christa Speekmann, Import/Export Specialist-
Aquatic Animals, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39,
Riverdale MD 20737; (301) 851-3365. For copies of more detailed information on the
information collection, contact Mrs. Celeste Sickles, APHIS’ Information Collection
Coordinator, at (301) 851-2908.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Interstate Movement of Certain Land Tortoises.
OMB Number: 0579-0156.
Type of Request: Extension of approval of an information collection.
Abstract: Under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.), the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) regulates the importation and interstate movement of certain animals and animal products to prevent the introduction into or dissemination within the United States of pests and diseases of livestock.
The regulations in 9 CFR part 93 prohibit the importation of the leopard tortoise, the
African spurred tortoise, and the Bell’s hingeback tortoise to prevent the introduction and spread of exotic ticks known to be vectors of heartwater disease, an acute, infectious disease of cattle
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and other ruminants. The regulations in 9 CFR part 74 prohibit the interstate movement of those tortoises that are already in the United States unless the tortoises are accompanied by a health certificate or certificate of veterinary inspection. The certificate must be signed by an APHIS accredited veterinarian and must state that the tortoises have been examined by that veterinarian and found free of ticks.
Since the last extension of approval for these information collection activities, APHIS has refined the number of responses collected, resulting in a decrease of the estimated annual number of responses from 500 to 250. The number of responses fell because of more accurate estimates by APHIS of the actual number of health certificates requested and prepared. As a result, the estimated total annual burden hours has decreased from 1,000 hours to 500 hours.
We are asking the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve our use of this information collection activity for an additional 3 years.
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments from the public (as well as affected agencies) concerning our information collection. These comments will help us:
(1) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through use, as appropriate, of automated, electronic, mechanical, and other collection technologies; e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
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Estimate of burden: The public reporting burden for this collection of information is
estimated to average 2.0 hours per response.
Respondents: APHIS accredited veterinarians, U.S. tortoise breeders, members of tortoise adoption organizations.
Estimated annual number of respondents: 50.
Estimated annual number of responses per respondent: 5.
Estimated annual number of responses: 250.
Estimated total annual burden on respondents: 500 hours. (Due to averaging, the total
annual burden hours may not equal the product of the annual number of responses multiplied by
the reporting burden per response.)
All responses to this notice will be summarized and included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will also become a matter of public record.
Done in Washington, DC, this 5th day of June 2013.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13682 Filed 06/07/2013 at 8:45 am; Publication Date: 06/10/2013]
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